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The book jacket of ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer''s Stone'' by J.K. Rowling.

Like the Giants, Harry Potter has the magic touch.

J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter novels

Actresses Scarlett Byrne, who plays Pansy Parkinson, left, and Evanna Lynch, who plays Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter film series, pose with a pair of Spectrespecs at Dervish & Banges, a magical supplies and equipment shop at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter during a visit to Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando on Monday. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, the series finale, smashed box-office records last weekend.

Harry Potter cast member Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom, stands in front of the flying Ford Anglia used in the movies at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney on Tuesday. Lewis was in Sydney to take part in a preview of Harry Potter: the Exhibition, which is due to start Nov. 19.

Wands, spectacles and capes were the order of the day for Harry Potter fans across the country as the conclusion of the enormously popular series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, opened at midnight. Fan Jesse Martinez poses during the opening night at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Thursday in Los Angeles.

Jenny Haber has the Harry Potter scar drawn on her head by Molly Skinner before the first midnight showings in Gainesville, Fla.

Kathleen Hall and Michael Ornelas cross wands at the opening night show in Los Angeles.

Wearing Hogwarts robes, Josh Fish and Sarah Little wait in line for the midnight screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 at the Regal Cinemas River Ridge Stadium 14 theater in Lynchburg, Va., Thursday evening.

Nhi Hoang, left, and Juliana Valencia show off their Harry Potter glasses before the first midnight showings of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 at the Regal Cinema on Thursday in Gainesville, Fla.

Justin Ciafardoni, right, dressed as Dobby the house elf, joins his friends, from left, Cheryn Rapp, Gary Maternick, Evan Vega and Bryan Rapp, all dressed as other characters from the Harry Potter series, to see the midnight screening in Lynchburg, Va., Thursday evening.

Dressed as Harry Potter, Aidan O'Shea of Hollis, N.H., waits in a line with hundreds of moviegoers for the midnight showing in Merrimack, N.H., Thursday.

Surprised guests who attended the midnight screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 at the AMC Universal Cineplexin Orlando received exclusive, complimentary access to Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park early Friday morning.

Lindsey Larson, left, and Julie Waite, both of Boise, Idaho, dressed as characters from the Harry Potter books and films, enjoy tacos before hopping in line to see the final film.

Dressed as Harry Potter's pet owl, Hedwig, and reading the sixth novel in the series, Max Rough, 9, of Vacaville, Calif., waits in line to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 on Thursday.

Fans watch the final Harry Potter film at a midnight showing in Tyler, Texas, on Friday morning.

Scott Johnson and Alicia Limon got their wizard on for the opening night at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Ralph Fiennes, Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter films, arrives for the premiere.

Jim Broadbent, Professor Horace Slughorn to his students, arrives at the final Harry Potter premiere.

Harry Potter series star Daniel Radcliffe makes a presentation at the Webby Awards.

A battered and bruised Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) confronts his nemesis Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) amid the chaos of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book Based on the Film Phenomenon With paper engineering by Bruce Foster, art by Andrew Williamson and text by Lucy Kee (Insight Editions, 12 pp., $34.95)

What it's about: Awesome unfolding pop-ups, inspired by the look of the Potter films.

Cool features: Three posters and lots of "side" pop-ups on every page, including an astounding one of Voldemort's snake, Nagini, unfurling.

Pop-culture cred: First came the beloved books. Now the movies -- the highest-grossing film series of all time -- are a cultural juggernaut.

Who will like it: Pottermaniacs of all ages and fans of pop-up artistry.

More magic for Potter fans: Harry Potter Film Wizardry: From the Creative Team Behind t

Rupert Grint, center, Evanna Lynch and Bonnie Wright wave to the audience with a sign bearing the title of the new Harry Potter film at a movie theater in Tokyo. The actors are in Japan to promote Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

Kelsey Shore, right, dressed as Bellatrix Lestrange, a villain from the Harry Potter series, fends off an attack by her friends, from left, Hannah Martin, Ashley Grisham, Maureen Abernathy and Rebecca Dowdy, all members of James Madison University's theater program. They and about 50 other dedicated fans waited in clusters outside Regal Cinema 14 in Harrisonburg, Va., before the midnight premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh film in the series and the first of two films based on the final Potter book by J. K. Rowling.

Plot: The first part of the final novel has Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) venture beyond Hogwarts School in search of the Horocruxes, which are the key to Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) immortality.

PG-13; 2 hours, 30 minutes

Upside: Arguably the best installment of the franchise so far, the Potter trademarks are here: visual splendor and taut storytelling.

Downside: The movie by now lacks suspense and follows too closely its source novel.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 star Rupert Grint is joined by cast members Evanna Lynch, left, and Bonnie Wright at a news conference to promote the movie in Tokyo on Thursday.

Daniel Radcliffe will reprise his title role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1.

Watson, Grint and Radcliffe with Hedwig the Owl at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in another scene from The Sorcerer's Stone.

Watson, Grint and Radcliffe a year later in a scene from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Grint, Watson and Radcliffe in 2004's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. All three actors were teenagers when this film came out in June: Grint was 15 and his co-stars were 14.

In November 2005 came Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Watson, Radcliffe and Grint were 15, 16 and 17, respectively.

The trio has clearly matured into young adults in 2007's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Radcliffe was approaching his 20th birthday when Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince came out in July 2009. Grint was close to 21 and Watson 19.

All three actors have left their teens behind with Friday's release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. Each has spent almost half of his or her life in the wizarding world.

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), left, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger, (Emma Watson), in the first film in the series, 2001's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Moviegoers have watched the trio grow up over the years: Radcliffe was 12, Grint was 13 and Watson was 11 when this film came out.

Daniel Radcliffe, left, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint arrive at a cinema in London's Leicester Square for the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One, Thursday.

The real bad guy, Ralph Fiennes, sports a fresh haircut at the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One premiere.

Rupert Grint, left, Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe pose for pictures at a photocall Wednesday in advance of the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1.

Hermione casts a protective charm to keep Harry, Ron and herself out of sight of other wizards and Muggles. "There's an awful lot of action in this film," says Heyman. "As much as there is, what I've always loved is the character work and the relationships that Jo Rowling has given us."

Harry and Voldemort have a climactic duel in Hogwarts courtyard. "Harry and Voldemort go wand to wand in the courtyard, and we get to destroy Hogwarts," says Heyman. "It's a mess in there. We probably made a little more of the battle between the two of them (than in the book). We felt we needed to dramatize it."

Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) rides with Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) on his enchanted motorcycle, executing a plan to escape Death Eaters,

Harry is surprised to find himself in a forest after evading capture by a Death Eater from the Ministry of Magic.

In this ultra-tense confrontation, Harry's creepy, noseless nemesis, Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), hisses: "Why do you live?" And Harry responds with characteristic bravery: "Because I have something to live for."

Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, second from right, and other cast members from the Harry Potter films wave magic wands to start a fireworks grand opening celebration at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort theme park in Orlando on Wednesday. At far right is Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley. Behind Radcliffe are James and Oliver Phelps, who play the Weasley twins, Fred and George.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1, is in theaters Nov. 19.

Professor Albus Dumbledore (played here in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by the late Richard Harris and then by Michael Gambon), the headmaster of Hogwarts School, rescued the orphan Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and schooled him in the ways of life and wizardry.

This week's release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the latest cinematic version of author J.K. Rowling's literary blockbusters, gives wannabe wizards a perfect excuse to grab their broomsticks in search of Harry's favorite haunts.

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling arrives at the British Prime Minister's residence at 10 Downing Street in London on Wednesday for a dinner held in honor of the Obamas' visit.